Fluid control island

Abstract

A fluid collection system having an island with a central collection vessel with a splash pad filling the opening thereof and a fluid collecting surgical drape with fluid dams, and associated fluid removal ports for collecting fluids related to surgical procedures from the vicinity of a patient positioned on the drape on an operating room table.

1. A fluid collection island, comprising:
 a central region; 
 a further region surrounding the central region and having a peripheral edge for engaging a tray supporting surface, at least a portion of an upper surface of the further region sloping gently upwardly from a peripheral edge thereof to a summit to define a boundary with the central region, at least a portion of an outer edge of the surface of the central region sloping sharply upwardly to the boundary to define a peripheral wall for a fluid collecting vessel the central region having a floor portion which slopes inwardly and upwardly away from an outer edge of the central region to a centrally disposed apex region. 
 
     
     
       2. The island of  claim 1  wherein the further region has at least one indentation formed therein, at least one indentation having a floor portion substantially parallel to the tray supporting surface and steeply angled wall portions from a floor to the upper surface of the further region, at least one of the indentations substantially perpendicularly intersecting the peripheral edge of the further region. 
     
     
       3. The island of  claim 2  wherein the at least one indentation has a segment of one of the wall portions closely adjacent and substantially parallel to the peripheral wall of the fluid collecting vessel. 
     
     
       4. The island of  claim 3  wherein a fluid removal fitting is clamped to the segment and with a fluid collecting end thereof disposed in the fluid collecting vessel adjacent the peripheral wall of the fluid collecting vessel and a coupling end thereof adapted for connection to a suction line. 
     
     
       5. The island of  claim 3  wherein the surface of the further region has a peripheral groove inserted therein for receiving a fluid suction line connected to fluid removal fitting. 
     
     
       6. The island of  claim 4  also comprising a resilient cover affixed to the surface of the further region for covering at least a portion of a further groove in the further region and that portion of the suction line inserted therein. 
     
     
       7. The island of  claim 1  wherein the surface of the floor portion of the central region has at least one groove in the surface thereof for channeling fluid received on the floor portion away from the apex region to the region adjacent a peripheral wall of the central portion. 
     
     
       8. The island of  claim 7  wherein a splash pad substantially fills the fluid collecting vessel in the central region of the island and the longitudinal cross-section of at least one groove for channeling fluid from the apex region to the region adjacent the peripheral wall of the central portion has a radius of curvature which is sufficient to leave a space between the between a bottom surface of the splash pad and the groove to allow free flow of fluid received in the channel after passing through the splash pad. 
     
     
       9. The island of  claim 7 , wherein the surface of a floor of the central region also includes a peripheral groove adjacent the peripheral wall which receives fluid from the at least one groove. 
     
     
       10. The island of  claim 9  wherein the peripheral groove in the floor of the central region drains into at least one collection well positioned below the remainder of the floor of the central region. 
     
     
       11. A fluid channeling and collecting surgical drape, comprising:
 a first sheet having a first portion to place between a patient and a support surface and a second portion to extend downwardly from the support surface; 
 at least one resilient strip affixed to a bottom surface of the first portion of the sheet, the resilient strip positioned adjacent the periphery of the first portion of the sheet to form a dam impeding flowage of fluid received on the first portion of the sheet; and a second sheet positioned beneath the first sheet and the resilient strip to form a fluid reservoir and wherein the first sheet has at least one perforation therein adjacent the dam to permit fluid flowing toward the dam to enter the reservoir. 
 
     
     
       12. The drape of  claim 11  wherein at least one evacuation port is provided to allow removal of fluid from the reservoir. 
     
     
       13. The drape of  claim 12  wherein a sheet of support mesh is sandwiched between the first and second sheets in the reservoir to support the patient and allow fluid to move about freely in the reservoir. 
     
     
       14. The drape of  claim 12  wherein a sheet of support mesh is sandwiched between the first and second sheets in the reservoir to support the patient and allow fluid to move about freely in the reservoir to the evacuation port. 
     
     
       15. The drape of  claim 11  wherein a debris pouch attached to the second portion of the sheet to receive tissue and fluid flowing away from the first portion of the first sheet. 
     
     
       16. The drape of  claim 15  wherein the debris pouch has an evacuation port for allowing removal of fluid collected therein. 
     
     
       17. The drape of  claim 15  wherein the debris pouch has a screen contained therein for receiving fluid and tissue flowing along the drape and retaining the tissue fragments while allowing the liquid to continue to flow into the pouch. 
     
     
       18. A fluid channeling and collecting surgical drape, comprising:
 a first sheet having a first portion to place between a patient and a support surface and a second portion to extend downwardly from the support surface; and 
 at least one resilient strip affixed to a bottom surface of the first portion of the sheet, the resilient strip positioned adjacent the periphery of the first portion of the sheet to form a dam impeding flowage of fluid received on the first portion of the sheet wherein the resilient strip is hinged to permit the drape to be unfolded from a compact folded initial configuration to an extended configuration for fluid removal use. 
 
     
     
       19. The drape of  claim 18  wherein the resilient strip has cuts across it to facilitate folding the drape. 
     
     
       20. The drape of  claim 19  wherein the cuts in the resilient strip are angled to remove material to facilitate hinging of the resilient strip. 
     
     
       21. A fluid collecting system comprising:
 a fluid collecting island having a central region and a further region surrounding the central region and having a peripheral edge for engaging a tray supporting surface, at least a portion of an upper surface of the further region sloping gently upwardly from a peripheral edge thereof to a summit to define a boundary with the central region, at least a portion of an outer edge of the surface of the central region sloping sharply upwardly to the boundary to define a peripheral wall for a fluid collecting vessel, and having a splash pad positioned to substantially fill the fluid collecting vessel; and 
 a drape having its proximate end affixed to the fluid collecting island, the drape having a having a first portion to place between a patient and a support surface and a second portion to extend downwardly from the support surface and at least one resilient strip affixed to a bottom surface of the first portion of the sheet, the resilient strip positioned adjacent the periphery of the first portion of the sheet to form a dam impeding flowage of fluid received on the first portion of the sheet. 
 
     
     
       22. A kit for assembling a fluid control system comprising, in combination:
 a fluid collecting island having a central region and a further region surrounding the central region and having a peripheral edge for engaging a tray supporting surface, at least a portion of an upper surface of the further region sloping gently upwardly from a peripheral edge thereof to a summit to define a boundary with the central region, at least a portion of an outer edge of the surface of the central region sloping sharply upwardly to the boundary to define a peripheral wall for a fluid collecting vessel; 
 a foot pad sized to substantially fill the fluid collecting vessel of the island; 
 a fluid removal fitting to be mounted for removing fluid from the fluid collecting vessel of the island; and 
 a drape having its proximate end affixed to the fluid collecting island, the drape having a having a first portion to place between a patient and a support surface and a second portion to extend downwardly from the support surface and at least one resilient strip affixed to a bottom surface of the first portion of the sheet, the resilient strip positioned adjacent the periphery of the first portion of the sheet to form a dam impeding flowage of fluid received on the first portion of the sheet, the second portion having a pre-applied adhesive strip for attaching the second portion of the sheet to the peripheral wall of the vessel of the island. 
 
     
     
       23. A disposable surgical and diagnostic fluid control island placeable on an operating room floor for selectably collecting, retaining and draining fluids received from patients during surgery comprising:
 a generally broad, shallow, impermeable vessel-forming base having
 a peripherally floor-contacting, undersurface portion and an upper surface portion with a raised center, 
 a multiplicity of sloping channels extending downward from the raised center toward a lower peripheral channel at the base of a generally vertical peripheral wall disposed between a fluid-contacting central portion and a distal peripheral skirt, 
 a generally beveled upper skirt surface extending between the top of the generally vertical peripheral wall and a distal base edge proximate the floor, 
 
 a generally non-absorbent splash pad disposed within the fluid-contacting central portion and supported by ribs above the sloping channels and extending proximal to the raised peripheral wall, and 
 means for connecting fluid-removing suction tubing proximate the lower peripheral channel. 
 
     
     
       24. The disposable surgical and diagnostic fluid control island defined in  claim 23  wherein an elongated drape lower end is affixed to the base proximate the peripheral wall and an elongated drape upper end may be disposed upon an operating table for fluid communication between a patient and the base. 
     
     
       25. The disposable surgical and diagnostic fluid control island defined in  claim 24  wherein the means for connecting suction tubing is further comprised of a tubular portion and a catch portion, the catch portion being adapted for being affixed proximate the top of the peripheral wall. 
     
     
       26. The disposable surgical and diagnostic fluid control island defined in  claim 25  being further comprised of a generally peripheral suction tubing guide channel set into the upper skirt surface interposed between the peripheral wall and the distal edge. 
     
     
       27. The disposable surgical and diagnostic fluid control island defined in  claim 26  wherein the suction tubing guide channel is further comprised of tubing retaining nibs. 
     
     
       28. The disposable surgical and diagnostic fluid control island defined in  claim 26  being further comprised of a generally planar tubing retainer member resiliently disposed over the suction tubing guide channel. 
     
     
       29. The disposable surgical and diagnostic fluid control island defined in  claim 24  being further comprised of a generally peripheral suction tubing guide channel set into the upper skirt surface interposed between the peripheral wall and the distal edge. 
     
     
       30. The disposable surgical and diagnostic fluid control island defined in  claim 29  being further comprised of a generally planar tubing retainer member resiliently disposed over the suction tubing guide channel. 
     
     
       31. The disposable surgical and diagnostic fluid control island defined in  claim 30  being further comprised of drape-raising resilient members set into the drape upper end. 
     
     
       32. A method for selectably collecting, retaining and draining fluids received from patients during surgery in a disposable surgical and diagnostic fluid control island placeable on an operating room floor comprising the steps of:
 a) placing onto an operating room floor a generally broad, shallow, impermeable vessel-forming base having
 i) a generally horizontal, peripherally floor-contacting, undersurface portion, 
 ii) an upper surface portion having a raised center having sloping channels extending downwardly from the center toward a lower peripheral channel at the base of a generally vertical peripheral wall disposed between a fluid-contacting central portion and a radially outwardly disposed skirt, 
 iii) a generally beveled upper skirt surface extending between the top of the generally vertical peripheral wall and a distal base edge proximate the floor, 
 
 b) attaching a generally non-absorbent splash pad disposed within the fluid-contacting central portion of the base and supporting the splash pad above the sloping fluid conducting channels that extend proximal to the raised peripheral wall, and 
 c) connecting fluid-removing suction tubing to the base proximate the lower peripheral channel. 
 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32  further comprising the steps of affixing an elongated drape lower end to the base proximate the peripheral wall and positioning an elongated drape upper end upon an operating table proximate a patient for fluid communication between the patient and the base fluid-contacting central portion. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 32  further comprising the step of fitting resilient fluid dispersal blocking members between the patient contacting surface of the drape and the operating table. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 34  further comprising the step of forming a peripheral suction tubing guide channel. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35  further comprising the step of affixing a resiliently displaceable tubing retainer member over the suction tubing guide channel. 
     
     
       37. A method of making a disposable surgical and diagnostic fluid control island placeable on an operating room floor for selectably collecting, retaining and draining fluids received from patients during surgery comprising the steps of:
 a) forming a generally broad, shallow, impermeable vessel-forming base having
 i) a generally horizontal, peripherally floor-contacting, undersurface portion, 
 ii) an upper surface portion with a raised center having sloping channels that extend from the raised center downwardly toward a lower peripheral channel at the base of a generally vertical peripheral wall disposed between a fluid-contacting central portion and a peripheral skirt, 
 iii) a generally beveled upper skirt surface extending between the top of the generally vertical peripheral wall and a distal base edge proximate the floor, 
 
 b) affixing to the base raised center a generally non-absorbent splash pad disposed within the fluid-contacting central portion and supporting the splash pad on ribs disposed above the radial sloping channels and extending proximal to the raised peripheral wall, and 
 c) connecting fluid-removing suction tubing proximate the lower peripheral channel. 
 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37  further comprising the steps of affixing a lower end of an elongated drape to the base proximate the peripheral wall and disposing an elongated drape upper end upon an operating table for fluid communication between a patient and the base. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 37  further comprising the step of fitting resilient fluid dispersal blocking members between the patient contacting surface of the drape and the operating table. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 39  further comprising the steps of connecting suction tubing to the base using a connector having a tubular portion and a catch portion, the catch portion being adapted for being affixed proximate the top of the peripheral wall. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 39  further comprising the step of forming a peripheral suction tubing guide channel. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 41  further comprising the step of affixing a resiliently displaceable tubing retainer member over the suction tubing guide channel.